Moss: Rossi 'too good' for F1

Eurosport - Wed, 09 Sep 14:29:00 2009

Sir Stirling Moss has warned MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi against switching to four wheels, saying he is "too good for F1".

FORMULA 1 2009 Ferrari Valentino Rossi - 0

Eight-times motorcycling world champion Rossi recently revealed there had been discussions regarding a debut in the top class of car racing at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend with Italian marque Ferrari.

But 79-year-old British racer Moss does not feel the Italian should take the plunge.

"I'm certain Rossi could succeed in F1 if he wanted," the 16-times grand prix winner told Visordown. "If you are good at one motorsport you will be good at the other.

"Rossi has that much talent and understanding of speed I'm certain he could make it in F1, even at the age of 32 when he retires - but personally I would not advise it.

"I think he is too good for F1: he would revolutionise the paddock by bringing in a sense of humour.

"If he seriously wanted to race F1 I'm sure his desire and dedication would see him succeed, but I don't think he should do it it would be a backwards step.

"The atmosphere in the F1 paddock is different to the motorcycle one, not as much fun and much more serious and I don't think he would enjoy it."

Rossi, who recently triumphed for Fiat Yamaha on his home turf at Misano in the San Marino GP, is in line for a seventh top-class bikes title.

He said he was in discussions about replacing injured Brazilian Felipe Massa at Monza after Luca Badoer was cast aside; and, despite deciding against it, said he may consider driving in the series in future.

Rossi has tested for Maranello in the past and been heavily linked with a seat.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 112 - 131 of 131

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  1. rossi on good for f1 stay on bikes

    From newell230, on Tue 15 Sep 6:47PM

  2. I think it would be a great idea to see how a moto gp­ driver becoming a f1 pilot...taking in mind that Rossi­ started his career in karts (but he switched to­ motorbikes because of financial difficculties) means­ that he is able and was meant to be number 1 in both­ sports...

    go for it Doctor you can do it!!!!

    From Kokos, on Tue 15 Sep 4:17PM

  3. I would hate to see The Doctor in F1, because F1 is a­ farce. Rossi was born for the bike. the best there is,­ the best there ever was and the best there ever will­ be. Amen. Thank you God for giving us Valentino Rossi.

    From Simon B, on Mon 14 Sep 5:53PM

  4. would love to see the doctor in f1 just to show what a­ farce f1 has become, long live valentino rossi...

    From paul l, on Mon 14 Sep 6:48AM

  5. John S did you go and watch all of his races ??? are­ you that old too ???

    Wake up its 2009 now not the­ 1920's GRANCHA

    Time all you old ones left this­ young world of technology. This is now not from a time­ or an age of retired idiots..
    When was he born 1929­ come on JOHNBOY get with it...

    From R 1, on Sun 13 Sep 10:52PM

  6. pauly-numskull obviously an ignorant person i wont say­ man as you arent one Sir Stirling Moss was a brilliant­ driver and a gentleman something that is rapidly­ disappearing in the UK,the level on this web site with­ people like you is the same level as the big brother­ mentality i.e. pond slime.living for the next edition­ of hello mag and celebrity tv,they then can go out and­ vote! god help us.back to Rossi he can do anything he­ wants,bikes cars boats a person to go down in history­ with greats like Fangio,Ascari.Mike Hawthorn and the­ above Stiring Moss. when the world was a much better­ place.

    From ignored by MPs, on Sat 12 Sep 9:55PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    isnt Moss dead yet... please die and do us all a favour­ you silly man....

    From R 1, on Sat 12 Sep 1:02PM

  8. Why ever would Rossi switch, F1 not a sport anymore its­ a joke a parade around a track, Singapore's not a­ race track its a highly published parade around the­ roads. They F1 stop of there purely for the money the­ Singapore people pay to promote the city.
    2008 race­ was a complete joke.

    From Tim B, on Fri 11 Sep 8:27AM

  9. I don't need to point out my credentials. I live­ and work within the Motor racing industry here in­ Japan. I was born in the UK, that aside I've not­ been to the UK for nearly twenty years now. I work for­ FCC Technical sports racing as a high tech computer­ program analyst. I confess, I don't know­ everything, but being in the sport opens your eyes to a­ lot more than any magazine or TV channel can. I've­ seen the might of Honda in their F1 dream years and how­ that mark filtered down to Motogp and helped the­ development of the HRC 500 two strokes and then the 990­ V5 RC211. I have a right to my ideas and to voice them,­ point of fact, being in the sport is more realistic­ that any of your can dream of. It takes hard work,­ money and time. I recall talking to Tady Okada a year­ ago about his years in Motogp. I asked him what it was­ like to race alongside Mick Doohan (someone I have­ always wanted to meet). He said "It was a joy, but­ if they'd have let me, I'd have done more to­ beat him". I think that sums it up that politics­ play a part in everything. I know it, signing a­ Japanese rider used to be down to the rider themselves.­ Now, we have to deal with promotions teams, sponsors,­ right holders, medical insurance companies and race­ organisors. It make for more hard times ahead. As last­ year our rider in the 600cc All Japan series was run­ for a small budget given our companies size and­ relation with HRC. This year the price rose 35%. For F1­ I can see why the costs are so high. I'm not in­ that field. Although, it would be fun to see what it­ was like inside that world. So I say to Schumacher_one,­ who I suspect from his baby like comments that he is­ infact another incarnation of William S and­ ride_strong_1 (maybe a check of the IP numbers for the­ posts will prove it) :-) I work for motorcycle racing,­ I don't stand on the fence and chit chat or dream.­ Seriously, get your head out fo the clouds, if you want­ to talk it, put your money where your

    From EGK, on Thu 10 Sep 4:15PM

  10. rossi wud light f1 prob just wot it needs

    From jk0474, on Thu 10 Sep 11:53AM

  11. Vale would light-up the paddock, or be bludgeoned into­ an automaton.
    Sterling Moss knows. He has been there­ and knows how different it is now.
    Sterling is right,­ Vale could do it, but he is having fun doing what he­ does. While Vale is enjoying being a very successful­ clown we can enjoy it. F1 doesn't deserve him.

    ­ And I may just go to Swansea and see him do the other­ things he enjoys.

    From Mr Red, on Thu 10 Sep 11:40AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rossi c'mon no body goin to watch bike racing when­ you around,how does it feel when you fall at Indy, its­ hurt your dignity isn't you conceited @#$%. Racing­ bike over 200 mph it's diffrent than racing cars­ like F1 cars its like a jetfighter againts pin needle,­ I respect bike racing but I disrespect the racer cause­ those racer are very reckless and undiscipline in­ taking apex and corners look at lorenzo in Brno and­ rossi in Indianapolis they both fall because of their­ impatient. so I think his transition will be difficult­ if they don't change their behaviour.

    From Iceman jr, on Thu 10 Sep 7:48AM

  13. Mike (post 114) read (112) again. Pillock

    From Simon B, on Thu 10 Sep 5:55AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    EGK,
    I'd like to see things from your point of­ view, but I can't seem to get my head that far up­ my arse.

    From Schumacher_one, on Thu 10 Sep 5:32AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    EGK, don't you know that you're depriving a­ village somewhere of an idiot ?
    You motogp rider­ wanna-be. You've got it all figured out, don't­ you ? I don't know what makes you so dumb, but it­ really works ! And you claim to be a motogp insider ?­ Your opinions are both shallow and boorish. EGK, I­ don't think you're a fool, but what's my­ opinion compared to that of thousands of others ? Nuff­ said.

    From Schumacher_one, on Thu 10 Sep 3:47AM

  16. WOW!
    So many people using two identities on here­ nowadays. William S and ride_strong_1 are the same­ person! What a shock!

    From EGK, on Thu 10 Sep 2:54AM

  17. F1 is all about pit stop strategy and hoping somebody­ retires to gain a place. MotoGP is about pure skill­ and precision. All the posts rubbishing Valentino­ Rossi are completely deluded. He is a true force of­ nature.

    In answer to the posts proclaiming­ motorcycle racing is easy, remember one thing. ­ Valentino could step into Lewis Hamiltons or anyones F1­ car and win..........I really doubt Hamilton could put­ the Yamaha M1 on pole and win a race.

    Think about it­ before giving me a thumbs down. Schumacher and Rossi­ are cut from the same cloth......

    From nathan, on Wed 9 Sep 10:37PM

  18. post 112 simon b you are an idiot it takes guts to race­ a motor cycle especially at speeds in excess of 200­ mph

    From Mike, on Wed 9 Sep 10:16PM

  19. rossi to my mind is the finest moto gp rider ever it­ would be sad to see him go to f1

    From Mike, on Wed 9 Sep 10:06PM

  20. The people that watch F1 only do so when there is no­ Corrie or Enders to watch.
    The people who actually go,­ have never seen a bike race. Otherwise they wouldnt­ bother

    From Simon B, on Wed 9 Sep 6:29PM
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